Method of commodity control



Sept. 4, 1928.

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H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,521 H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,827

H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20, 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 4/ Grape Fruit .5 Minufe 5mm 1.50 French Fry -5 HOT Rona .25 Coffee .25

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Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,827

H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dive/atop fljifiran d.

Sept. 4, 1928. 1,682,827

H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 I50 2% 322 ED812127), LSD-243 -74| 150-293 l s W I50 2% I8! lsn-z z-saz I METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 I z jgy'ji fizven for 205 /7,/Z. 2/6 H 1?. Brand Sept. 4, 1928. i1,fi82,827

H.R.BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20. 1919 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Jay 12.

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' 1,004,04 I H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20, 1919 10 Sheets-$heet 9 a" W W W may L/W A Xx (/60 24* Sept. 4, 1928. 1,68Z,Z'l

H. R. BRAND METHOD OF COMMODITY CONTROL Filed March 20, 1919 1.0 Sheets-Sheet L0 15KB. Bran Patented .Sept'. 4, 191.6.

mm: RUSSELL mmnnor NEW Yon-K. N. Y.

METHOD OF COMMODITY ooNtrnoL.

Application filed March 20, 1919. Serial No. 283,817.

This invention relates to commodity or food control, and while more particularly designed for use in hotels, restaurants and the like. it is to be understood that'the same is not restrict-ed to such uses, but may be employed "for other purposes for which it is adaptable. p

The presentinvcntion has for its objects, among others, to provide a food or commodity m contro'l that will automatically insure more capacity, greater speed, better service, accuracy; eliminate graft of food by. and between the cooks, servers, checkers, cashier and guests, and'also' enable the management to have placed before them in ashorttime after the close of the days business,'an accurate tabulated statement of the days sales, or com modities sold, waiters sales, dcpartl'nent sales, and all other datathat is required in connection with the operation and control of the business.

I provide for the automatic accomplishment of the following rcsults. Bvthc mere placing ot the food check or card in the hereinafter described device and a turn ot a key,

7 the ordcrcd food portion is'prinled in the proper place on the .i'ood check or card, the proper price is thereon recorded i-n the price column of said food check or card, the waiter charged for the value thereof on the inside of the device, where there can be no tampering with the card, price or item, the waiter is given an order on the server to prove to thc scrvcrt-hat he has been autl'iorizcd to collect the food portion, the cook or server is notitied by an annunciator or the like to prepare the food portion. (thus savinp several minutes time by the waiter not having to go to the kitchen) and the number of each tood portion sold is tabulated ready to be copied by the auditor. and these are all, automatically ac- LOiIlPllSllOfl in the one device in less time tha it takes an ordinary \vait'cr to Write out a food check or card'by hand which later is required to be priced, price checked and audited. i

The checking systems commonly used in connection with food control in hotels and the like, petrfticrdarly the duplicating checking sytenis. cause much delay in service. in addition to extra work by the checker,cashier and auditor. As a' ,L'Oncral rule. the waiter is a poor writer, and. t'urthernmrc. has great di'lliculty in writing and hai'idlintr duplicate sheets generally used in connection \viththc food check or card (which is written upon a paper on asheet holder or book and employmg a carbon-sheet), as a separate duplicate for each individual item on the food check or card mustbe ivritten. In addition co-this,

the duplicate must necessarily be collected and read by the cook and server who, as a rule, are mefiicientreadcrs, 1f not altogether unable to read poor hand-writing. As-my device prints the food check or card from type upon being operated upon by the latter, there can be no difiiculty in reading it and there is no liability of inability to read it as often happens when the waiter attempts to rub out an erroncouswriting, .making a blur. As the device also delivers to the Waiter an order on the cook-uponwhich is identified the portion desired, by a printed name or number thereon, there can be no doubt of the server or cook being able to readily read and identify it. Therefore, the difficulty in respect to the writing and reading is eliminated.

A further improvement of my invention over the present systems isthe elimination of graft. This is accomplished by thefwaiter having made an automatic record charging both himself and the server with the commod ity andthe \"alue'thcreot before any prepari11;r,cl1ccking or serving transaction has taken place. My device having thus auton'iatically charged the sale price necessitates the cashier turning in the same value in sales.

The number of commodities having been recorded on the inside of. the device necessitatesthc server having to produce the same number of orders or tokens collected from the waiter. This number necessarily having; to check up with the amounts of the same comlllOLlltlQS issued to the server by the storekeepcr o'r controller,thcse facts become the evidence by which to locate immediately any shortage in money orconuumlitics from whatever source such shortage may occur.

A further improvement of; my present invention over the prior systems of food or commodity control resides in the food chccle ing. A food checker isnot only supposed to check the food passing out of the kitchen, but also to price it. It is evident that there is no check on the server, thewaitcr can take food stull' past the checker provided the Waiter is working in collusion with the check er. A checker can, if desired, let a waiter pass with food that is not designated on the "food check or card; he can also allow the waiter to give food stuff to an employee. Collusion between employee and the checker is a commonthing in all hotelsand restaurants due to the very fact that no system yet devised can stop it without requiring an enormous amount of red tape and actually slowing up the service, which latter should be avoided. \Vith my invention in use there can be no collusion between employees as the checker 1s not needed for food pricing, that labor being saved, as well as the time required therefor, the pricing already having been done by the automatic device, which cannot be tampered with by anyone.

A further improvement of my invention over the prior systems of control is the auditing. A hotel or restaurant auditor must necessarily do the following things to produce statistics in accordance with the demands of that industry. He must add up the sales. He must separate the waiters food checks or cards in order to determine waiters sales. He must arrange each waiters checks in their serial numbers to determine if any checks are missing. He must, if any are missing, look up the duplicate at the checkers desk and see if these checks were collected for by the waiter. item on the food checks or cards to make up what is commonly known. as a food portion sheet, so as to determine what the sales were because it becomes necessary for him to read the writing of the waiters to make up the food portion sheet.

All this work is eliminated by my device.

' There is no need of serial numbers on the checks or cards as there can be no lost checks or cards. There is no need of collating food checks or'waiters sales, as the machine'has charged the waiter. There is no need for analyzing the food checks to make up the food portion sheet, as the machine adds up the orders in each separate commodity as they are made. Therefore,-it isrevident that practically all of the auditing work will be saved and much time will be saved besides getting the statistics before the management the guest and place the order with the cook in a short time after the last sale is made.

Another improvement effected by the adoption of-my invention will be quick sorvice. There'is no delay from the time the waiter takes the order of the guest until he is. served. In waiting on a guest under the systems commonly used, the waiter must first go to the kitchen after getting his order from and server. Then to save time he must go back to the dining-room and do the work of preparing his service, while he iswaiting for He must take off each individual line improvement much of this time is saved.

There is one device for each food commodity, located at any desired place, and there being as many of. these devices as the capacity and other conditions about the hotel or restaurant 1 may demand. They may be arranged as most convenient and such device is separate and complete in itself. The generally will be arranged as close to the dining-room as possible, and as soon as the waiter gets his order from the customer verbally, in the 1 usual way he goes up to the appropriate de-' vice and drops his food check or card into the said device which will be that which he needs to use in order to have his check written and priced. He may then proceed with his service without going to the kitchen and upon getting'his food stuff and passing the checker, where he does not have to stop to have it priced, as it has already been. priced by the device. This insures that the customer will be served with his food more promptly than before.

In addition to the above, my present improvement embodies a checking system that makes it necessary for the server to show a receipt for the food delivered to the waiter, the waiter must leave a record of what he orders from the cook; the checker having nothing to do with the pricing of the food as it passes him to the dining room, serves merely in the capacity of food inspector. My present improvement makes collusion b ijtlween the checker and the waiter imposs1 e.

It makes collusion between the cook and the waiter impossible.

It makes impossible collusion between the cashier and the waiter.

It renders impossible collusion between the waiter and the guest.

It makes impossible collusion between the waiter and any employee.

It makes wrong pricing impossible.

' It insures a positive check on each food commodity so that a shortage of any commodity can be instantly traced to its source.

It shows the amount or quantity of food consumcd by the server; the amount served to the waiter or employee; the amount delivered 01' sold on food check-s. If all three of these agree, then it is proof that there have been no losses through theft, graft, collusion or other leakage. It provides a printed check instead of one that is hand-written, thus obviating chance of error through poor handwriting.

All of the above, and more too, is automatigetting the wrong Cally accomplished Withoutslowing up the service, but, on the other hand, greatly tacilitoting the same, and placing less Work upon all the parties concerned.

Furthermore, the device is foolproof. There is no possihiiity of error. The check or card cannot be placed in the machine in the Wrong position. There is no possibility price on. uny card, nor is it. possible for one waiter to get his card mixed up with that of uiiother.

To summarize: the waiter places his food check or card in the machine; it drops to the proper place, it properly inserted; it not, then it cannot drop to operative position and must be taken out and properly inserted. The card, when in pr per position, cannot receive the printing except in the predetermined Way and in "the prescribed position. The Waiter inserts his key, which bears his number, into the hey-hole and turns it, which cau cs his nun1- her to be printed on the paper strip, which, with a carbon sheet or strip, is automatically fed forward, the inked ribbon serving for u' c with the strip o'i' paper and with the inserted card. The turning of the key releases mechanism which serves to print upon the'card the name and price of the food commodity, which that particular machine indicates, and upon the said paper strip the nun'iher of the machine (each machine will hour its own distinguishing numher) in addition to the numher of the Wuiter, as uliove indicated. The turi'iing ol the key also releases mechanism which serves to push out or otherwise eject a check or token hearing the number of the coinniodity Wanted in the kitchen. fit the same time, means are thrown into operation which by menus oi an nnnunciator or the like in the kitchen notifies the coolr that this Waiter is coming utter the food commodity corresponding to that indicated by the particular machine that has been operated by the insertion of the key.

Each waiter numbered, and this key capable of operating each and every box, but each time a waiter operates one of the devices his number will be imprinted upon the strip by the actof turning the key. The key cannot he turned until the card is inserted in the machine and is in the proper position. The printing cannot; he done until the key is acti'iated. ihe totals of the amounts on the cards can he added hy the waiters or the cashier, or, on a totalizer. The audit strips may he caused tO.Ql't'i(31Q 'lronrthe machine in any well. known way, and wound upon rolls ii desired.

Various accessories are provided, or may he procided, whereby the improvement may be carried to further extent, to perform func' tions other than those above outlined.

Other objects and advantages oi the invention will hereinafter appear and the novel has his own key, properly features thereoi" will he specifically defined by.

the appended claims.

llhe invention, in its preferred forms, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in \vhich Figure l is a perspective view, partly in vertical section. from front to rear, showing a collection oi. units arranged in tiers for carrying out the invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic View of a kitchon and portion oi a dining-room of a hotel, with two tiers oi my devices arranged one upon either side o't the passage from the kitchen to the dining-room.

Figure 3 is an enlarged t'ace view of one of-the units.

Figure et is an enlarged perspective view of one of the keys en'r 'iloyed.

Figure 5 is an enlarged elevation oi one of the Waiters cards or checks, after it has been printed upon by live insertions.

Figure (5 is an enlarged detail, partly in. elevation and partly in section, showing the conditions when a curd or check is present ed in improper relation.

Figure 7 is a similar view, showing the operation when the card or check is properly presented.

Figure 8 is an end view of the tier of units shown in Figure l, with the end wall removed, to better illustrate interior parts.

Figure S) is an enlarged detail (If the means for closing the card'ei'itrance to the unit at predetermined time,

Figure 10 is an end View, oi one of the units with the end wall removed and parts in section, with portions broken away. Y

Figure 10 is a detail of a portion of the audit strip.

Figure 11 is a view looking at the opposite end oi the unit, with ports in section and portions broken away.

.Figure 12 is :1. vertical transverse section as on the line 12l2 o't Figure 11.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section on line l2l2 of Fig. 12;

Figure 13 is a vertical transverse section, as on the line 13-13 oi Figure 10.

Figure 1-1 is a horizontal section as on the line let-14 of Figure 12, looking down.

Figure i5 is or vertical section as on the line iii-15 oi Figure 12.

Figure 16 is an elevation of the movable knife and the arm that cooperates therewith.

Figure 17 is an edge view of the parts shown in Figure 16.

Figure 18 is an enlarged detail of the keyhoic guard and. its associated parts.

ill)

Like numerals of reference 'iudiut-c like a multiplicity oi units, each complete in it self, said units being arranged in tiers, or

otherwise. so as to be convenient of access. the number of unis einnioyed done upon the mu nitude of th h ir s. or conditions or circumstances. purposes 0i illustration end dem of the practicability of the inventio shown the some as applied to food in a hotel or the iilz is stood that the invenlion is its use for this purpose. but may .ie in connection with other coininoei food.

Figure 2 shows diugruniniuti I plicution of my present i Vention. View 1 represents thilritclri. 2 room, 3 the pzissugen'uy between i; and diningrooin, -l the guest serving table proper. the fooc table; or desks, and '7 the cashiers the present instance I have shown 1 inspectors and two cushers desks, each side of the passageway 3. but the nuinher of iood inspectors and cashier" may be varied es occasion may require. c der my improvement the services oi? zi. checker are dispensed with.

The various tables in the kitchen Where the different commodities )repsred are indicated in Figure 2 nt- 8;

.Jicted nloj/ed res than e of the (littrent commodities prepared in; such tebles or stations are designated upon the driin'n'ig, Figure 2.

9 are the tiers of units in tire presen iii-- stence there. being shown two one each side of the pess-izie'ewey 55. They be increased or diminished as may be desire l or as army be deemed best under the veg-in conditions or places in which my systeri ins he installed.

As these units are ull shite, detailed de scription of one will suiiice for all. The only difference between the units is what may be called. the name-plate on the i. hereof its distinguishing number also 'g ileyed on its face, and the slug or type which does the printing on the card or check, each unit being in this particular individual to All". For insluncc. as seen in Figure 23. the out inenibcr ill of the unit ll has secured thereupon the plate l2 bearing the designation minute stcalc $1.50, also the plate 13 hearing the number 243 which designates the number of the commodity, being understood that each commodity has its own number. will be umlcrslood that the unit number 13 is used to identify the commodity as Well, that is. the number 243. idcnlilied by reference number 113 in Fi e". 3. also idcnti tics our order for mi uutc sleek. and on accounting or other supervising authority would. read from. this number on the strip of Fig. 10 that the order was for minute steak. (lbi'iously also a plurality of units could have the some dentity ing number and be used for the some commodity. AS will. hereinafter appear each unit the check or card n on the 5 will he s unit. and the Each unit occupies bu. little space, the units i in iiip'ures i and it) being; shown as formed in steps which new i'i'orui'l to he the most satisiuctorj urruiiigement for economy oi. space, convenience ot' ZLt 'GSS and for general usage. tihey may be supported .3 any suitable menn T as iron: the 8' ljoining With or support 14 und the iioor or other louse l5, and the front wall it as seen ii in ure 8, which hitter serves to t:onceui the spools upon which the puper strips are Wound. it" desired, electric lights as shown at l? in igure 8, may be provided to illuminate the tiers of units, the electric lights being supported in any convenion; manner, as by the overhanging member 18, as seen in Figure 8.

The front plate 10 of the unit is provided with e keyhole 19 (Figs. 3 and 13) about which is e. projection 20, as seen clearly in igures 3., 8 and. 10.. This projection serves to OJ'IQZLQO the top oi the next lower unit in the tier. us indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8 Where the upper unit is shown h dotted lines {LS turned down upon its hinge ill, for access to the interior of the unit for any purpose, such for instance, as clfienging the printing characters, renewing the carbons, replei'iishing the tokens, reselling the counter, removing the audit slip or any other purpose. 111 operating position or condition, it Will be understood that the interior the units is inaccessible lo waiter or other person operating the unit. so as to preserve the record of trunszictione and the supply of tokens inst cessible. 'lihis projection 20 elso serves as a. guide for the insertion of the key.

The key 22 seen in iu igure 4-, beers printing characters 23 representing the employee or person operating the unit, which character is printed upon the audit strip by the set of turning the key to release the other mechanisms as is hereinafter described. 'lhis hey may, desired, beer the corresponding nunr her it 524;. so :is to reeii lily identify the key,

and also has formed thereon ii lug 22 as an actuating member, as hereinafter appears.

signed lo be inovsble in any suitable manner so as to provide access t the inter or of t unit the Whole Eorrning, when arranged in the here, a casing for nieccessibly containing each mechanism iiereii'ie'lter described. it

will. be understood that only those in euthority have access to the interior as is inter dcocrihed. The top member 26 supports a member 27 the upper end oil which projects through said top member and has its opposite mills inclined, as seen in Figure 12,120 serve as a guide for-the insertion oi the checlr or curd, the said .ineniliier 2? herin" depending guide portion or spout 29 e -tcd down Wilhii'i the unit, as seen clearly in n igure 12.

The depeiiuling portion 29 o'l: this guide is provided iii; no cnihin the present instance toward-the out plate 10, u 'l'fh. u notch. seen clcerly in Figures 6 end i "for cooperation with at project-it e which in-u y be e roller 31 curried. by the upper end. of ii member 32 pivoted. 2%; its lower end, 2 2 Li 33, upon any suitu le support, its, lior lilStZl'llCB; u lug 3i 'cct from the supporting niei'nber Hill, l igjgures 6 end 7. This inc1nurly in l M 'hoirn is angled in i ig 'ures o and i end to groritete. in order however, to aid or assist iii causing the member to m cro into thenosition in which it is shown in i igure (3, if uii that shown in Figure 7, icniploy a UllllQ: 3U undert-ensioi'n as seen beet in Figure it? coiled around the pivot "with one end beuring' against, the member 32, as seen in Figure 13. I w 1 fit this point it is thought; titlYlSZllJlQ to 18- choclr employed end the connection therethe check or curd 37 has at one end it beveled edgre 38. the curd is; 'plucet'l. ii ithin the mouth portion or the guide with this beveled corner or portion in the rehrtive 'giosii'ion shown n Figure 6, the erguure end :19 of the curd Will rest upon the roller 31 which, at. this; time is (lis'poueo itliin the slot 30 of the depending portion 25] oil the cord guide, us .Qeen in ii isrur e (g eed the cord cannot, be further insertion. lhu; niches itabsolutely necesa aury that the card he properly "presented or it gttl'li'lflll lfli g ossed beyond the point shown in l nure e. rill. t me other hand, when the curd isproperly j)];t' seulecl, that is, with the beveledv portion 38 facing the front wiil ot the unit, are seen in Figure 7, the incline thereof: ivill uct uu e Wedg e, the curd being of; eull cienla rigid ty for this purpose, and the curd thus readily forced post the roller ill and by the inward movement of the card the roller end the eriu 32 are forced toward the front of the unit into the position seen in Figure 7, out oi the path of the card and the latter can be movodlo ts proper position. The erur eensiti 'e 1n its movement but when it is in such position thin; the roller 31 projects into the slot 30,

scril'ie the cord or function oi: the roller 31 in with. its seen in l igure o,

held in the notch.

e 'JDUIEIlZQ SPHCQ and to ulloW the rollerlornielly the cord is not notched upon the edge opposite the beveled portion 38, but. this edge is right-angled es indicated clearly in Figures 6 and *Z. in Figure 5 the card on the edge opposite the be elecl portion 38 is shown us notched at 50, a portion being cut out upon each manipulation of the lrey, as is hereinafter described The cord shown in Figure 5 has been inserted in five clill'ereni; units and 0.- portion removed. at each insertion. it is to be understood, however, that the cord functions the same whether it is in its normal. condition, that seen in Figures 6 and 'Z', or whether one or more portions have been inorei'l, for, in each instance, there is u square shoulder movable in to the notch to engage the roller to prevent further ineertioi'i of the curd, ii; being understood that; While the curd inoves further into the guide portion 529 utter each portion has been removed, the shoulder, either the end of the cord in its norunil condition or the shoulder il formed by the notchinfg of the curd, has the same position relative to the roller or notch. Elfhe zirin 32 end its roller 31 serve on additional function, that elf-engaging the :iront edge of the curd during all its inunipulations, when properly in sorted, and tending to keep it in such relative position that the printing upon the card will be at all times in proper ulincuient. l urthei more, this zirni and. its roller serves to keep the cords, even though they vary in Width, forced over toward the opposite side of the member 29, that is to the right in Figure .7, so thet the cutting; out or notching of the edge oi. the curd will be properly accomplished at right uuglcs and not iii; an. incline thereto, and this prevents Wcdniug ottlie cord in the knife soon to be described.

From the loregoiinr it will be readily undcrsuiod that the curd cannot be inserted into the device for enough to perform any :iunction unless presented in precisely the proper possible until means guarding the keyhole here first been movedv out oi opcrutive poub tion by the curd, us ,is further described. This keyhole guard and the rnecliuniinn by which it; is controlled will be best understood upon reference to Figure 18 in which l2 learn errn fixedly mounted upon a rotatable shaft 43 ciltendine transversely of the unit and arranged in the path of the cord 37 as it is inserted. Fixed upon the some shzrlt li-3 is an arm ll normally held in its upper-meet; posi tion by a light spring ll), the free end of the arm ll liming connected. therewith one end of a link 46, the other end of which connected with the end oil an arm or guard member 47 pivotully mounted at; with its other iii? curd. imz' erd, pressure V clown who he 'i lo ,ie-lo; a d mu inserted uuiil u k l word u'ioreuieuia o uiiiec hypiu 4-51 remoruhl h 1 71d Whieh serves an uddii'i n :iiou in eoiineeliiou with 3h m lling ism soon to he described. n

m the pars diloelly re- J d iheir normal positioi ready for ti o by he iuserciou of {mother curd or of me our card if it is d sired repea the order on iil'l'ib articular 'LiElllL Th Hing mficlillllfln ie shmvn heat in oehiiii' lfil'llfif'ililhflill? hhis rhe stufiieuury meui ier hi the culling IHGQlHUT viU. which is i1 5h Luu'trufe of slieuru of in" h 51 is the ovzi iieiuhe'r pivoizully mounted, or M52, "in r o ulutiohury iiieiuher and having piv- Ely connected l'o ii lowe end, us 52 lil, the eouueeliou o 3 of ur end oi Willi-soon he desc-rihoo, .Tihe member a B, lurulily of openings 553, :ri' seen in e ill, in "which l'he pin 22' is reuujiviiihly so 1.5 in he udjuiw'luhle uu lo heighe, urpose soon lo he described. I member 51 adjacent its upper end is :l oraniu g' lahe rec-e 56 in which Works ioosely the arm mo shalt 41-3, as seen in Figures 16 and 1'". The free end of {he arm 51 plOYlijlQfl Willi ihe hum l projeeliou 5?} 0 prereu dlspieeemeut of the arm ifldto present e r riui. for the cutting operation. .i 59 is movable beneath ihe porl-iori 60 of the erel iouury member *0, as so i in Figures 16 and 1'5, and eooperu'l'ively act loith an edge of the member 50 us; sheu u or cutting elemerdze. ihe 'llOphll ol his portion proje :hu (r ihe mu; made in the curd gi'morned by the exllen' mi movement douunmrd of ihe aria: 4-2, which :egi 'uhd'ed by Lhe powil'iou of; {he pin is} in one or die olher oi (he opeuh 1 5?; iii the rdu tiorurry iueiuher 50 us: 'u ili. he readily iu'deretood upon refereuee iggure 13.

l he Widlh of the out is gmverued iTQll'l) 0i" projection oi ihe 1' face of the stationary me evident upon reference to 1* iggg The depending poi-lieu 52f me chute curd-guide is provided in one 0: ts side Walls with an opening 61 through 'W'liCll, into ihe passagevmy through the gg 'uide is designed he be projected ihe lateral ringer on. an arm 633, see Figures 6, 'i' ind lLJlS ui ihe swiupi' 2 u curried by 'Lhe upper end i 64; iiiouuted on a pivo l suoiorh rear well 06 of (he uui a. l

rly iu FiglllGS and 12. 6? h; e sp under 1 sion, secured to the urm (i i pivot,

and lo a stud or the like 38 lh'e reur Well 66, is seen :5 i). The lower end, of the oral projection 35 over hooked uleuil'ier 'ZO pi Tl, on u stud projecting ii 38, us seen. heel; 111 Figure hooked member is in or g; lateral .u'iember (35L as seen If; 'l'huig the urru (i3 and i ts ii posibion indicated in full ii the letter out of the puth oi uhe When this hooked member is removed engagement, Wilih the projeeiio spring (32" pulls the lower end a" lo the left in Figure HEM; moved to the right ihus 02 thereof through the rape per port of the member 225) r r ii. gel traverses the passage urough (he card guide and prevents the insertion e curd and; Lue q-lli therein. This eoiuliiiou of uluirs brought uhoul; as follows. At; (he i uel; of ii unit are a plurality of tubes or eoniuiiuei's Yo, Ll'LOZQ lieiugr any desired uuiulmr for ezu'h unit, in ihe present iris-Lorine lire being shown, uud iheue are designed Lo uouluiu u pluruliij' oi Lohouu or discs '25 of :my uuiiuhie mderizrd, uud ouch hearing" some deui rzudiug ehurrzufl'rr :zuuooiulxiu g; it with (he purliieulur uiiil; wih 'ul'iioh ill is employed. The low-er end of each tube or container 72 is open and hue u. poriaiou (hereof projected beyond the end of the base plate 24-, as seen clearly in l i srures 5h 10 and 15, the outer wall, subsluiuiuli half of the tube diameter having on opening- ?41: prefeb ably of a depth Slightly greater than the thickness of therohen T3 is seen host; in Figure 9, to permit of the reudy pussuge of u token 73 when the some is uoied upon by means now to be described. One oi these us seen ab 75;.

and in said tube or ooulxuiu weigh 51 I?? as seen in Figures 9 and I l. This weight has: lulierid are ejected, and when but low reu aim in the lube or contumen ihese iugru or i: [er-ad pro i; i seen in Figure 14%, come li'l eouauot vith the upward, and carrying with it said member 70 and thus releasing hooked portion from he meml'ier 139. l i hen the hooked member is thus freed of the projection 59, the spring (it pulls the lower end of the arm 64- in the direction of the arrow seen in Figure 12,

ceipt for the commodity obtained thus throwing the upper end 01" the arm 64 the right as viewed in suid Fig". 12, imd projecting its linger (.52 through the opeuing 51 in the portion of the curd-guide, thus to obstruct the passage through the curdguide.

E lie token-ejecting means is clearly illustrated in Figures 10, 12, i lund 15, wherein is u shalt extending transversely '1 the unit and mounted in suitable bearings 83 on the rear wall 66-01 said unit and this shaft curries 2i plurality oi ejectinggurms 8 1, as many there are token receptacles to the unit. These ejector arms ore disposed at difiterent unglcs ivith relutio'u to the shall; so thut insteud of all ooeruting together so as to eiect s plureilty oi tokens simultaneously, :1. token will be ejected from first one receptucle and then another, as the shaft is in- "ttently und partially rotated us here 2 'lescribed so that tokens Will he ejectd us from the various receptacles. It

evident that one would suilice, hut it is found advisable to em- .iloy u plurality so as to increase the-capacity oi the unit. liluch ejector linger 8 1 is ui'lupied (luring ouch :luli revolution oi the shult 82 to engage in :1 slot 85 of an ejector slide till mounted to slide in suitable guides 87 on the hose plate 2 1, which guides may he of any suitable character. Erich slide 86 is culuptcd to move beneath u token receptacle T2, us seen best in Figure to engage and eject a token Y8 which falls into a chute 88, us seen clearly in lii 'ure 15, see also Figure 8, one chute serving 101 as many units as are urrunged in vertical series, as seen in Figure 1. each chute 88 tern'iinuting at the front of the unit in e delivery cup 89 from which the ejected tokens may he collected by the operator 01 the units. This token constitutes an order fivhicli the operator delivers us a re by him from the server. As soon as s token has been ejected, the slide 86 is returned to its normal position by means of :1 spring 90 connected therewith, as seen in Figures 1-1 and 15, the other end being secured, us at 91, to the base piste 2 1, as Wlll be readily i'i'nderstood upon reference to Figure 1 1'. [utter a token hes heen ejected and the slide 86 returned to its receptacle for euch unitnormul position, the next loweri'nost tolccn drops into position to he acted upon and engsged by the said slide as it is again moved forward against the tension o't its spring, it being evident that the column out tokens are sustained by the slide 86 during this operation.

The shaft 82 is operated as follows When the key 22 is inserted in the key-hole 19 and given a partial turn to the right, Fig;

13, to operate the printing mechanism, 1t is turned buck to the left end uctuutes mochanism, soon to be described, which. serves to rotate the power shaft 92. Feston this shaft 921's the arm 93, seen clearly in Figure 13, Which arm serves a double function. has connected therewith one end 01' tiievlinla 91, the other end of which is connected, as ut 95, with the arm 96 01 u hell cruel: lever i'otutubly mounted at 96, the other arm 9-? of which is pivotully connected, as ut 38, with the yoke member 99, see Figure 10. This yoke member curries the rod 100 rendered 21C.- justuble in length as by the hut 1 1, and the other end of this rod 100 is pivotully connected, as at 102, with the member 103, see Figure 10. This member 103 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 82 end has pivotully mounted thereon, us at 104:, a pawl 105, us seen in Figs. 10, 12 and 141, which cooperates with a ratchet 106 fitSt' upon said shaft 82, the parts being so constructed and urrungod that each time the arm 10?; is moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 10 the shuil t S2 is revolved one-filth 01 an entire rcvolw tion, in the present instunce, hecuuse 1 have chosen to show five token receptacles 7:2. But, it there should be but three token rcceptucles, the purts would be accordingly proportioned so us to revolve the shu'tt 812 onethird of a "lull revolution upon ouch uctuution of the member 1023. The pawl 11):"; is held. to its Work by a spring 107, as shown in Figure 10.

Mounted upon :1 suituhle lug or support 108 rising from the bed plate 521 is u puwl 101) held to its work by u spring 110, as shown in Figure 10, the said pawl 109 cooperating with the ratchet 106, as shown, to prevent ietrograde movement 01 said ratchet, when the pawl 105 is being returned-to its initial positiou.

As seen clearly in Figure 13, the end 01 the arm 93 carries a pin 111 orking in an elong'ute'd slot 112 in the vertically disposed mm 113 ucted upon by a spring 114.- undcr tension, os'seen in Figure 13. the stop 113 maintaining, when desired, the urm 113 in its initiul position. The upper end of suid urn-1 1155 carries it laterally projecting: pin 115 worle ing in a slot 116 in u segment 117 loosely mounted on the shaft 118, and pivotuliy mounted, as at 119, upon the sold segment is at spring-pressed pawl 120' cooperating with o ratchet 121 fast upon said shaft .118, us

clearly seen in Figure 13, and having a detent pawl 121. This shaft 118 carries a spool 1:22 upon which is adapted to he wound the audit strip 121; which 011111131... from the base cfthe unit.

11111111111111 on the trout plate 11), Figs. 11 and 141-, is a counter mechaiiiislu 1124-. This eonntinsi n'zeelninisin 111a" be of anv wellli'i'iowi'i. or spin-rived form (it cons!ruetiou. the inin'ihcrml wheels 13: 1; 01" which are visible 111111111 1 an openiiuz; 1 15 in the i'rout, wall 11) "he 11111.1,assee11 in liiig'. 3. and operating to tor the number of 1801531310 1 in :1 111a ner well-lznow11 in it will he understood the regi er ihus aceiuuiilates the numol portions ordiu'ed, by the unit represc11t such commodity. Q11 the shaft is a star wheel 125, see Figures 12, l-land 15,1111V- ing teeth 12 3 equally spaced and corresponding in nun'iber to the number of token reteplueles and jeclor arms. in the present instance live. said star wheel being last upon and rotatable wilh said shaft. .127 is a pin adapted tor coope 'ation with the teeth 1:36 oi said star wheel. 'lhis pin is 'arried by one arm ol :1 bell cranl-c ltl'li 122v pivotally mounted, as at on :1 suitable support 1911) rising from the bed pl:1l'e:2l.:11ultolheend 111 lhe other :11'111 111' this le'i'er is p"\ot:1ll Millie-uteri, 11s at 131.11.11111' 1 173. which extends 111211111 opelutes the lever hi2} see also 1 1, 1. ll which is the actuating lerer of the counting un-chanism. Attached to pin liil is a spring 1 11. under tension. which acts to restore arm 121% to its initial position.

The power shaft 92 is designed to be revoiced by manipulation of the key, as before nu'nlioned. The actuation o'l the said power shalt i2 is caused by toe return 111ore111e11t and tel-1 the art of counters".

11 the hey, the initial, movement (11 which first actuates the prime power shaft 136, see l is'ures 111 and i i, in the fl'o1lowin; manner. in this shal 136 is a curred member one r111 1 11' of which extends downward. as seen in Figure .13, the other arm 19515 exteiulinp upward substantially vertically and carrying at its upper end a pin 121.) from which depeuds the swinging member 1-1-4) provided with a plurality of teeth or the like 1 11. as seen in Figure 13, and having projecting111terally therefrom the pin 113 which is adapted to contact with the adjacent edge of the member 38, as seen in Figure 13. 'ihe 1110111- her 1 11 has a. tail portion 14-1, see Figure 13. The member 13T--lltl is bifurcated or composed of two parallel separated meu'iliers, and between these members works the 111en1- her 1 11 and its tail 1 1- 1, as well as the arm 'iiroi'ally mounted. as at 14.1). on the end of the curved arm lei-7 last upon the power shalt 92 11 111011, for COl'lVClllQllt'Q, is herein termed the secondary power shaft. The arm 1-15 car ries at its upper end a earn or pawl 1 18 mount.- ed -for pivotal movement upon a pin 1 19,

hey iiuinipulations iu-e ill by 111ea11s of springs 11?! and U13 being a spring acting upon sait. earn or pawl. The free end of this (rain or pawl is disposed in the path of the end of th 1 tail piece 1414- to be engaged by the latter, as will hereinafter appear. The arn'i 1&5 bears i11te1' media te its ends upon a roller 15.3. carried by a stud 152,115 seen clearly in Figure ill.

1:33 is a spring, secured to the win 93 be tween the pin 11.]. and the shir 5152, as seen in llig'ure 13, the other end oi. said spring being aneliormfl, as at 1:11, to a. suitable support 1115 rising; from the bed plate 21; and which acts to restore and maintain, when desired. the shaft 92 and its connected parts in their initial position.

The initial turning ()1 the key after being inserted in the hey-hole is to actuate the printing devices, of which there are two in the present instance. The lower end oi. the arm 13'? projects beneath a lateral pin or projection 156 on a pivoted member 15? fast upon the shaft 158, see Figu res 11 and 13.111111 having projecting: from the opposite side thereof a pin 15.) contacting with the u11- der face of, the member fastto the shaft 161, all as clearly seen in Figure 13. The 11'1e111bers 157 and 160 are normally held, in the position in which the y are shown in eon- 11eeled at one end with the sha l ts 158 and 1131. respectively, and at their other ends eonnecled to the studs 113luod 11353 the lormer having its opposed ends last in the plate .10 and rear wall (3 5 and the latter lined in said Wall 66, see iiigiiiris 10, 11 and 13.

166, see Figs. ll and 13, is a spring plate secured at its lower end to the shaft 151a and at its upper end carrying a 111o'able platen 167 adapted for coope 'ation with the slug or printing character 168, it being understood that the platen carries the elastic surtaee 1135), Fig. 12, for an obvious purpose. This platen prints on. the 11rd 38 of Figure 5 while it is inserted in the card slot 29.

170 is a spring arm or plate similar to the arm 166 just descrillied, the lower end being connected to the shaft .1131 and end carries a platen 171 designed for eoopera tion with the slug' or printing character 172 similar to the slug or printing cha actor 1118 hereinbc'lore described and shown clea 1} in Figure 12, with the exception. oi course, X11111: the cha 'acters are designed to print diil'crent menioranda on the audit strip '12 from those printed on the ward by the slugs 1138. 'lhc members 166111111 170, see Fig. 13, are 11ormally held out of operative relation lo their printing position by means of the stiuls ""l .111 and 174, respectively, whose opposed ends are fixed in the plate 10 and the r ear wall 66, as seen in Figure 13.

The link 54-, hereinbefore described as being connected at one end with the 1110 able member 51 of the cutting mechanism, is pivotally connected, as at 175, with an arm 176 fast at its upper leases? on. the power shaft 92, as seen clearly in Figures 12 and 13, so that upon actuation of the power shaft 92 the said movable member 51 is outdated to cut the card.

17? 21nd 17%.; n-rc spools upon which are Wouzul and unwound n, curhon strip 17$), as seen best in liig'nre 12. This cnrbon strip i; guided by rods 160, 181, 183 and shaft 185, es seen in .lligure 12. it is to be noted that the carbon strip is guided in such position as to he operated upon by both printing devices, the relative position of the carbon strip, the printing character and the platen being clearly shown in Figure 12 at the left in section. and in Figure 13 in elevation. The spool 11'? freely carried by the arms 182 and 181 respectively adjacent to the rear wall 66 and the plate 10, as seen in Figures 11, 12 and 13, the said arms being fixed upon the shaft 185, th construction being such that the spool 1 may be swung to the left, as seen in Fig. so as to provide ready access thereto for renewing the carbon or other purposes. The shaft 186 of the spool 177 carries a gear 187, While the shaft 188 engaging the spool 178 carries it gear 189, as seen in Figures 10 and 12. The spools 1i"? and 172 are caused to move in one direction or the other by menus 01 u gear .190'. see Figure 12, which is carried by the arm 1211 mounted on n shaft 192, the said arm. being designed to be recited upon. its

shaft in the following munner:+193 is :in'

nrin test upon the secondary power shaft 92, is seen best in Figure 12; this arm is shown also in Figure 10 Where it is shown us hi'lurcuted or formed of two separated parallel members upon one of which is pivotnlly mounted, as at 19 1, the arm 195 which is pivotull'y connected at its other end, as at 196, with the arm 197 loosely mounted on the shaft 122. as seen in Figure 12, and carrying a pawl 108 pivot-ally'mounted, as at 199, and acted upon by n spring 200. The pawl 198 engages u ratchet 201 test upon the shaft 192 to rotate the some and by reason of the engagement of the gear'201 with the gear 190, the letter intermittently rotated.

lmosclv mounted upon the shaft 192 is a member 202 having arms 203 and 20 1, as seen clearly in Figure 12.

2051s it pin carried by the free end of the arm 193, as seen in Figure 12, which pin is adopted for cooperation with a notch 206 of an arm 207 freely mounted on a shaft 208,

and with a hook 209 of an arm 210 also freely mounted on said shaft 208 and provided with an arm 211, the arm 210 being limited in its upward movement by a pin or the like 212', as shown. This, in connection with the menihers 213, 214: and 215, constitutes a reverse mechanism for the carbon strip, but forms no part of the present invention, it oeing understood that all of the parts mounted upon the shaft or support 192 have a rocking movement bodily, being moved in one direction by the engagement of the pin 205 in the notch 200 of the member 207, and in the opposite dired tion by engagement of the said pin 205 with the hook 209 of the member 210. A spring 216, seen in Figure 12, and connected with the upper end of the arm 191, serves to hop said arm in the required direction us soon us the latter passes the axial center, in one direction or the other.

217 is a. sprinf acting upon the end oil the spool 178 or its shaft to restrain the same and hold it in place. I

218 is a spring connected at one end to the plate 10 and to u lug or the like 219 on the upper end of the member 138, as seen in ure 13, tending to hold the same in its normal position, as Will be readily understood.

220 is a member pivotelly mounted on the stud 16 1 and having at its free end a heel; 22' as seen clearly in Figure 12, adopted to en gage over the shaft of the roll 177 to hold the same in its retracted position when desired, for the purpose of renewing the carbon or permitting of access to the slug 1118.

' It now remains to describe the menus for announcing to the cool: or other party the order issued by the unit. -For this purpose I provide an arm 222, us soon in Figure .12. This arm is fast on the secondary power she'ift 92 and at its .t'ree end curries en insuleted switch block 223 adapted for cooperetion with the knife switch 22 1- mounted upon the base plate 241". 225 are the Wires lending ir'omsaid knife switch to an unnuncietor tor the said unit, said unnuncietors being represented diagrammatically in Figure 2 by the reference numeral 226 and Which may he oi any well-known or approved -l orm of con strnction, the details of which it is not deemed necessary to dwell upon. I 227 is aspring, shown best'in Figure 12, for-holding the arms 182 and 18 1 in normel position.

228 is e key-hole at the base 01 the muchine, its seen in Figure 3, for the insertion oi a. key to actuate the locking letch229, see Fig. 12, to unlock the unit so that the some may he turned down into the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8 for access to the interior, when desired, such as reloading the token receptacle or receptacles, or for other purposes.

' The token receptacles ere bodily removable as a whole, when desired.

The audit strip 123 protrudes down through an opening 230 in the hose piste of the unit, as seen in Figures 10, 12 and 1 1, end as also will be readily understood upon refence to Figures 1 and 8. Each audit strip is Wound upon a spool or the like 231, each mounted upon a spindle 232 and guided by suitable guides 233, as seenin Figures 1 and 8, the construction underrengeinent being too such that the said strips are delivered from the spools so as to be properly prcscntcd to the printing mechanism.

28%, Figure 13, indicates a guide for the card or check and down which fall the pieccs cut-from the card by the cutting mechanism hercinbeforc described, so that tho portions cut out automatically drop out of the unit into the space below where they may be re ccived in any suitable receptacle.

ith the ports constructed and arranged substantially as hcrcinbcforc described and as shown in. the accompanying drawings, the operation, briefly stated, is as follows Normally the parts are all locked so that the mechanisms of the unit cannotbc operated. The waiter gets his order from the customer, and gets a card which he inserts in the opening of the appropriate unit. The hey-hole is covered by the guard i? and the printing mechanism, token ejector, the annuncintor mechanism etc. cannot be operated until the hey is inserted. The key cannot be inserted until after the guard 17 is moved out of operative position, which is done by the insertion oi the card or check 37. Should the card be inserted improperly, for instance, upsidc-dmvn or with the bcvel thereof at the wron c side. as indicated in Figure (S, forthcr passage of the card is prevent-mil by tho rolicr 31, as shown in said Figure 6. But. if the card is properly presented, as indicated in Figure 7, the beveled edge 38 thereof forces the roller 31 outward, allowing the card to pass, as indicated in Figure 7. Further downward movement of the card or check brings it in contact with the member d2, as seen in Figure 16., the roller 31 hearing against the edge of the card and serving to keep it in proper vcrticalnlincmcnt and in position to properly receive the impression of the printing; character. Further downward movement of the card 37 against the arm 42 serves to overcome the tension oi the spring it], as seen in Figure 18, causing the member 41-2 to assume the position shown in dotted lines in said figure. bringing the member 4%, link 46 and guard 4'? into the position indicated in dotted lines in said Figure 18. thus removing the obstruction to the introduction of the key. This downward'movcment of the arm 42 continues until it is stopped by engagemcnt with the pin 49 in a predetermined hole 55in the stationary member 50 of the shears. The card 8'? is now in proper position to receive the impression. The key is now inserted and turned to the right, view- Figure 13. This iorward turning of the key, that is to the right, by the cng'agremcnt of the lug 22 will: the tooth 141 of the depending member 140, serves to force the upper end of the arm 138 to the right, so that the lower end oi the member 137 will exert a lifting force upon the pin 156 ol. the member 15'? carried by the shaft 158, overcoming the back to their normal position in conluct re spectively with the stop rodslr'l and i'i'i and n consequence of the whip-like action oi the platen ends of thc spring plates use end 178 the platens 167 and 171 cooperates with the printing characters 168 and 172 and the con hon sheet 179 interposed between both the card and the audit strip and printing cliarnctors, print such characters simultaneously' upon the card 37 and upon the audit strip 123. This completes theoperation of print ing by both printing, devices and completes the function resulting from the forward turning the key. It is to be understood that the card has imprinted thereon designations representing both the commodity and its price. For instance, as shown in'il igure 5, the card was first introduced into a imi't representing grapefruit, the price of which is lifty cents. The impression made upon the card reprosents-thc name and price of the commodity by the mcchanism already (lcsciibcd. The impression made upon the audit strip 123 will be the number of the machine, that is the commodity member, and thc price of the co1nmoditywhich it represents, and lhe number of the key. which identifies the operator or Waiter. The character impressed upon both the card. and the audit by the slugs 168 and 172 areprcdcterminod and the unit provided With these i'ncuns for printing the characters described. Obviously the unit can only so record until a substitution, and as the interior oi the unit is acccssil'ilc only to those who may bc'chargcd with thc duty of prearranging the per-llu'munccs, the operator can make only such records as the unit is set to produce, excepting the recording of the particular key which is uscd us an acl uator. It will be further understood that at the time of impression thc hey is in such an operative position as to i1upi' ,=sstl1c rluiractors adjacent to those carried by the slug; 172, the platen 171 causing this simultaneous 'gn'iniingr.

After the key has been thus turned to the right and the impressions made, the parts actuated by such movement are auto:natically returned to normal posit ion. 'lfhc lioy in its initial movcmcnt is stopped at sulisluntially a horizontal position and having pussod the lower end of the member 140 has permitted the said mmnbcr llll undcr action of tho spring 218 to assume a position to he acted upon by the log: 232 of the key 22, when the key is rotated in the reverse diirctiou or to the loft in Figs. 3 and 13. Upon this reverse or reill) 

